iPad Game Friday: New Releases

Continuing our day of iPad-related posts, today I’m going to be taking a look at five of the best games that shipped alongside Apple’s brand new gadget. Some of these are ports of the equivalent game on the iPhone, and others are completely new.

Whether or not you’re a proud iPad owner, it’s a great insight into some of the wonderful, innovative games being developed for this new category of device!

Racing on the iPad takes on a whole new experience, with a far more immersive feeling that you’re actually in the car. Controlling your vehicle seems considerably easier than on the iPhone version, and the graphics are simply stunning.

Race your way around different tracks, and build up a career to progress to faster cars and higher-calibre tournaments. If you’re looking for a racing game on your iPad, this one’s worth every penny.

GodFinger lets you take control of your own tiny world, building up a civilisation by playing God. Not an completely new idea, but it’s executed in a fun and friendly way with cartoon characters and a myriad of different variables to contend with.

As you play, various new features are gradually unlocked. An ongoing walkthrough tutorial makes sure you don’t get lost along the way. Great fun, and completely free (you can purchase certain objects and power-ups in the game).

The iPad was begging for a fantastic pinball game, and this seems to be it! The Pinball HD has two views – either a fixed view in landscape, or a “ball tracking” mode in portrait. The graphics are impressive, and it’s great fun to play.

You can compete against yourself or your friends with both a local high score table, and a worldwide ranking. Looking forward to seeing this one grow and evolve!

The classic application so popular on the iPhone and iPod touch is now available on the iPad. It’s full of interesting challenges, with the general aim of using plants to show the ongoing progress of different zombies.

The iPad version allows for 11 simultaneous “touch points”, creating a more immersive experience. There’s also an exclusive iPad-only game: “Buttered Popcorn”!

Scrabble garnered plenty of press attention when the iPad launched, on account of the ability to use your iPad as the Scrabble “board”, and two iPhones for keeping your pieces to yourself. Certainly an expensive way to play, but a great way to illustrate the possibilities of interconnected devices.

Scrabble is a long-standing classic, and the iPad version recreates the fun experience you’d expect. Graphics look vivid, and you can play against other friends online via Facebook.